Jeff Browning (aka Bronco Billy) is a veteran ultra-runner and endurance coach. He has competed in some of the world’s most difficult ultra-mountain races over the past two decades, amassing nearly 200 ultra-marathon finishes and 39 career ultra-wins. Of those, 27 were in the 100-mile plus distance, placing him second in the world for the most 100-mile wins in history. He holds multiple course records, including Moab 240 and The double record for the fastest combined times of Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 (a mere 19 days apart). He was ranked No. 3 in Ultrarunning Magazine’s North American Ultrarunner of the Decade (2010-2019) and has been ranked seven times in the Top Ten of Ultrarunning Magazine’s North American Ultrarunner of the Year – the first and only man over 50 to make the list. He lives and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife and three children.
We really enjoyed this conversation with Jeff. This guy has been doing Ultras for a long time and is full of knowledge and wisdom. We covered so many topics on this one. Jeff talks about how embracing the process of training has kept him motivated. He also talks about nutrition and how that has made the biggest impact on his performance. We also talk about balancing family, career, training, and coaching. We even got into a fun discussion about music. Jeff’s words of encouragement are some of our favorite. We know you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
IG- @gobroncobilly
Coaching - www.gobroncobilly.com
Dave & Jenn Goins are no strangers to ultra-marathons. They were Becoming Ultras first married couple selected as part of season 10 and they have not stopped taking on challenges. In February they ran their first ultra-together, Black Canyon 100K. On this podcast they talk about the highs and lows and how they got each other through it. We love to see couples supporting each other.
Riley Brady is a 27-year-old trail runner and bicycle mechanic, who recently moved to Boulder, Colorado. They are spending the next few months focusing on running but eventually hopes to move into the frame building side of the bike world. Outside of running and work Riley loves goofing around with friends and internet cat videos.
Riley is living their best life! We had a great time chatting with them. Their positive energy is contagious. We covered so many topics on this one. Riley discusses their Javelina 100 race that earned a Golden Ticket as well as being name one of the top ranked ultra-runners by Ultra Runner Magazine. We also discussed being a non-binary athlete and inclusion in ultra-running. Riley shares some DNF experiences and how they view them. This was one of our favorite conversations. I hope you listen with an open mind and open heart.
IG - @rye.outside
Melissa McGaughey has always been passionate about health, fitness, and nutrition. However, in today's society there is so much conflicting information, fad diets and trends to follow that we become overwhelmed. This can lead to unhealthy habits and leave us under fueled when we are trying so hard to live a healthy life. Through years of experimenting with the latest and greatest trends, fad diets and attempting to live a healthy life, she found herself unbalanced and unhealthy. Having a baby inspired her to follow her passion for health and fitness, so she could learn to decipher the conflicting information about nutrition and fitness, truly nourish her body, and be a good role model for her daughter. Melissa studied to be an integrative health and nutrition coach at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC, where she became a Certified Health Coach. Further expanding her nutrition and fitness knowledge by becoming a Master’s Sports Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer at the National Association of Sports Nutrition in San Diego, where she became proficient in exercise metabolism, body composition testing, metabolic evaluation, pre and post workout fueling and nutrition for recovery. she also discovered a love for reformer Pilates and completed the training to become a Pilates instructor. Hours of reading, research, and certification through the Self Talk Institute, taught her that your mindset and internal self-talk play a vital role in whether you're successful in achieving your goals. Melissa is also an avid runner and advocate for being outdoors.
This is a subject we have been wanting to talk about for a while. This is a great conversation about nutrition, fitness, and aging. Melissa has so much knowledge, we could have talked to her for hours. We discuss macro training; intermittent fasting; whole foods; protein and the unique needs all of us have. We also talk about mindset and internal self-talk and much more. Melissa is a wonderful advocate for a healthy life and wants to share that with everyone.
IG - @melissa_eduralife
www.enduralife.com
In 1998 at 17 years old Harold Jr. Allen’s young life was forever changed. He was arrested for a crime he did not commit and served 10 years in prison. Initially filled with anger and despair, he eventually resigned himself to serving his time and making the most of it. After his release he gradually slipped into destructive behaviors until 2014 when he was recruited to run a local 5k, he loved it and within a few months was training for a marathon. Harold has been running 100 milers for the last five years. Seven years ago, Harold created Buckle Up a fitness / running group that provides a positive and encouraging environment designed to help others discover what they can achieve. Harold turned tragedy into triumph!
Buckle Up everyone! Harold has remarkable story to tell. Harold talks about the lessons he learned in prison and how he learned to believe in himself. We talk about his path to running and eventually to 100 milers. Harold has found a way to inspire his community with Buckle Up, we talk about what this gives back to him. We covered so much in this hour of talking. Harold is someone who turned tragedy into triumph. He follows the best advise he was ever given, love life and love people.
IG - @haroldallen19811
Beth and Rebecca are both very driven and have finished some extremely challenging events. They have also experienced DNF’s. On this podcast we take a deep dive into the emotions that go along with a DNF. This is not always an easy topic for people, we appreciate their candor. Our hope is that if you experience a DNF you will remember some of the wisdom shared on this podcast and move forward ready to tackle another goal.
Brian Murray is an accomplished real estate investor and author who loves trail running and is an amateur endurance athlete. He was on Season 9 of Becoming Ultra and has completed 16 marathons and three ultramarathons. His biggest brush with fame was when he got to be Carly Heard’s teammate on Becoming Ultra. Brian recently returned from a trek to Everest Base Camp and is currently training for the Black Canyon 100K in February. He lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with his wife, son, and two dogs.
It was so fun catching up with our Becoming Ultra teammate who was Carly’s partner for season 9. Brian is not just inspiring because of his accomplishments but because of how he lives his life. Brian shares with us what led him to getting fit later in life, how he maintains good habits, and why it is important to step out of your comfort zone. We also talk about his latest adventure at Everest and how much he gained from the experience. There is some great insight on this podcast. We know you will love this one as much as we do.
IG- @crushingitbrian
Marshall Ulrich is an ultra-marathon running legend, adventure racer, mountaineer, and author. He has completed over 130 ultra-marathons, completed a 3,063-mile run across America, he has climbed the tallest summit on each continent, and finished 12 expedition length adventure races, and completed all 10 Eco Challenge Adventure Races, something only two people in the world have done. He has crossed Death Valley on foot for the 30th time to raise money in honor of his dear friend and teammate, Mark Macy, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018. Marshall is arguably one of the most driven men on the planet.
What a privilege it was to spend time talking with Marshall. He is a genuine, kind, and inspiring person. On this episode we talked about the Route 66 Ultra run and why Marshall and his wife Heather created it. We also discuss the special bond with Mark Macy and the Stray Dogs. Marshall explains why it is important to keep challenging yourself and discusses how aging has changed things for him. We also talk about Badwater and the Eco challenges. There is a lot of wisdom in this one. It will always be a special one for us. Enjoy!
IG - @marshall.ulrich
Michael Ormiston was born in Sydney, Australia in 1971. In 1999 he moved to Hong Kong and married his wife, Sandra in 2003, they have 2 daughters ages 16 and 18. His passions are cooking, wine, trail running, cycling, and skiing. In 2016 he was made redundant from his job and moved to France, skiing all winter, and running in the summer, in 2019 he moved back to Hong Kong where he currently resides with his family. Michael is a partner at TouchPoint, Race Director/Partner at RaceBase (organizes Hong Kong trail races). He started racing in 2005 with 10-15k trail and adventure races and built up from there, running his first 100k in 2007. In June of 2022 Michael was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and just finished five months of chemotherapy. He recently did his first trail race post chemo and finished first in his age category. For the past 12 weeks Michael has been training four times a week at the gym with a personal trainer to prepare to compete in Hyrox, a goal race to focus on and celebrate the end of his cancer treatment. He finished the event in 1 hour 23 minutes, placed 5th in his age category and 58th overall.
If you have ever wondered what the impact of a positive mindset has on a very difficult circumstance just listen to this podcast. Michael shares his running and cancer journey; he explains how he used movement as medicine and the power of a positive mindset. We discuss the daily struggles of setting a goal and working towards it while also receiving cancer treatments. We were so moved by Michael and his journey. There are so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom and inspiration in this one.
IG- @ski_run_eat_wine
Sheri Gewelke loves to run.... and run.... and run....for the pure love of the sport. especially ultramarathons. She has run 1,000s of races and is going on her 12th 100+ miler, which is her specialty. Running is her passion- it is who she is. She is single and a mom of 8 biological children ranging from the ages of 12-28, 5 boys and 3 girls. One of her daughters, Iris, has 3 state records and ran a 50 k barefooted at the Pistol when she was 8 in 7 hours and 26 min. Sheri is a teacher, cross country coach, and athletic director and she just recently got her master’s degree of Education in Administration and Leadership, her Principal's License, and she plans to go back to get her PhD. She is also a personal trainer, a missionary and loves to travel and serve others. Sheri has paced 6 people to 100-mile buckles and a few to state records. Her motto is “Health is wealth”.
Sheri is full of positive energy; she is a doer who always strives for excellence. She is also someone who appreciates the gift of running. On this podcast Sheri tells some great stories with a good message for everyone. She explains what it means to be organic. Sheri also discusses having eight children and how she prioritizes her time to be present for them and herself. We talk about completing 207 miles at the Ozone Endurance Challenge and training in the TN mountains. Sheri lives by the motto a positive mindset is a champion mindset. This one may change the way you think about negativity.
Jennifer E. Rizzo is an ultramarathon runner and award-winning writer from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Her work has been published by Vanity Fair, Motherwell Magazine, and Moms Don’t Have Time to Write. She is a wife and mom to two humans and one dog and is trying to tame a newly adopted semi-feral cat.
We love a guest that when you are chatting it feels so comfortable and authentic. Jennifer is very honest about what it takes to balance family, career, and ultra-running. She shares what ultra-running adds to her life and how she uses it in all areas to improve. On this podcast we get into the hard choices it takes to accomplish your goals. We also talk about Jennifer’s 2021 and 2022 Riverlands 100 attempts. This is a great story! Jennifer shares her experience of crewing for a blind runner and how that has impacted her life.
IG - @jennifererizzo
Dusty Hardman was born and raised in New Jersey and lived in Boulder, CO and Victor, ID. She started running in Teton Valley, ID around 2007. Inspired by an interview with Lisa Smith-Batchen in Running Magazine Dusty started running. Starting with a marathon and within two years tackling the Bear 100 in Utah. Having health issues, it took Dusty a while to dial in her training, medications, and overall health. It didn’t take Dusty long to start tackling amazing adventures such as the Barkley Marathons, Badwater 146, Vol State and running across Florida from Coco Beach to Withlacoochie Bay on the Florida Trail. Dusty is one of only a handful of people to complete Badwater 146 and only the second woman. Dusty is inspired by all the amazing ultra-runners she has met and feels honored to toe the line, hang out with or even have so much in common with all of them.
Dusty is one of those amazing unassuming athletes that you probably have never heard of. She has been setting big goals and having incredible adventures for a long time. On this episode we talk about what led Dusty to three Barkley Marathon attempts and the Badwater 146. Dusty also shares some great stories about meeting her ultra-running role models along the way. We discuss health struggles and how that has affected her training and mindset. This one covers a lot; you will enjoy getting to know Dusty.
www.toughlovetraining.net
Matt Fitzgerald is an endurance sports author, coach, and nutritionist. His many books include The Comeback Quotient, 80/20 Running, and The Endurance Diet, How Bad Do You Want It and his latest book, On Pace, Discover How To Run Every Race At Your Real Limit. Matt’s writings have also appeared in numerous magazines, including Outside and Runner’s World, and on popular websites such as podiumrunner.com and nbcnews.com. He is a cofounder of 80/20 Endurance and the creator of the Diet Quality Score smartphone app. A lifelong endurance athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally.
We always love talking to Matt. He has so much knowledge, we are always grateful to learn from him and share with you. On this podcast we discuss his latest book, On Pace, Discover How To Run Every Race At Your Real Limit. We talk about all things pacing, including:
This book is a great reference book to have on hand. Grab a copy and enjoy the podcast!
Every runner stops getting faster at some point, but pacing is something that any runner can get better at indefinitely.
The true winner among competitive runners is not the swiftest but the happiest, and the happiest runner is the freest runner, and the freest runner is the runner who has most fully mastered the art of finding his or her limit.
Book available at:
80/20books.com
Mattfitzgerald.org
80/20endurance.com
Tracie Hunter is a certified running coach and business owner of IRG Training. She has been running since the 90’s, and just completed her 30th marathon and 4th world major marathon at the Abbott World Age Group Championships in London. She has also completed 2 ultra-marathons: a 50 miler and 100k and would like to someday complete a 100 miler. She has been running for over 25 years, but her fastest marathons have all come in the last year.
Tracie has been running marathons for years (she ran Boston 6x’s) and she is getting faster. We discuss how she has changed her training to make that happen and how her training has evolved as she ages. Tracie shares stories about some of her favorite marathons as well as where she is running next. Tracie is also a running coach and shares with us the joy and motivation that brings into her life. Getting older doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get slower.
IG- @indianarunnergirl
Makinsie Bartholomew came from a background of triathlon. In high school she did swim team and track & field, and a handful of sprint triathlons. After graduating in 2011 she competed in half and full Ironmans. Makinsie completed her first Ironman in 2014 and then her first 50-mile ultramarathon in 2015. She had never done any trail races further than 13 miles and jumped straight to 50 miles. She has completed 4 Ironmans, 10 Half Ironmans, a 50-mile ultramarathon and the Bigfoot 200. Makinsie has a very supportive family and has her Dad to thank for getting her into trail running, together have been able to do some great ultramarathons.
We have so many wonderful conversations but this was one of my favorites. Makinsie has an amazing attitude and a lot of grit. She takes us through her 2022 Bigfoot 200 finish with all the highs and lows that came along with it. Makinsie credits her Dad for getting her into trail running and shares many stories of their adventures together. We also talk about DNF’s in a positive light. We wrapped up the podcast and kept talking. We recorded this one on a Friday morning. It was a great way to kick off the weekend. Enjoy!
Find her incredible race report for the Bigfoot 200 here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TaqjqtoNnoqAiuClvqxGYFIHM9hqpnteyEJEzU3t4ds/mobilebasic
IG - @imkinsie
Andrea Casella Kooiman is an avid runner with over 150 marathon and ultra-marathons under her belt. Some of her accomplishments include the Boston Marathon, Grand Slam of Ultra-running (4 oldest trail 100’s in one summer), Badwater 135 three times, Western States twice, HURT 100, UTMB, Vol State 500K, taking 3rd place overall. Andrea is also one of the founders of WeRock, a program created as a response to the challenges faced by the Orange County communities’ young people. It is an educational, after-school, intervention program for Middle and High School students focused on the endurance sport of running. She is also the executive director and head coach; she considers some of her greatest running accomplishments watching as the kids cross the marathon finish line year after year. It is her solid belief that everyone can and will achieve all their wildest goals and aspirations if they can first visualize themselves in that position. She is on a mission to HUG the world and assist others in becoming their own Superheroes.
Start asking yourself why not me. This is a question Andrea always asks herself and she has accomplished some amazing things. We loved talking to her about her adventures, coaching her kids and life in general. This woman is full of joy, optimism, and fun. We talked about the Barkley Fall Classic and moving on to attempt the Barkley Marathons (watch for her name). Andrea lights up when discussing WeRock, she talks about how it started and what she has gained from coaching. We also get into some great Badwater stories and how she balances everything from family life to the big races. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
IG- @runcoachkrun
Gary Cantrell also known as Laz Lake is the creator and race director of two of the hardest ultramarathons in the world, the Barkley Marathons and the Big Dog Backyard Ultra. He also created the Barkley Fall Classic, Strolling Jim 40, the Vol-state 500k, and the epic virtual team event, the Circumpolar Race Around the World. Gary is also a husband to Sandra who he met in college and a father to three grown children. Before retiring in 2011, he was an accountant for 35 years.
Well, this was a whole lot of fun! In this episode we chat to Laz about the early ultra-running days, the inspiration for all his unique races, and his trans-continental walk across the US. Laz has some great Barkley Marathon stories to share. You are sure to learn a few things about the Barkley’s you may not have known. We learn what Laz has planned next, the current Barkley theme, and how to get a Geezer hat. This one is full of great stories, encouragement, and lots more. Gary Cantrell aka Laz Lake is truly a legend in the Ultra-running world. We had the best time meeting him. Enjoy!
Fresh off of completing an epic 100 miler in an amazing way, Scott joins us to recap the experience! When Scott decides to do something, it is never simple or easy and this is no different! We talk all about Band of Runners, the news season of Becoming Ultra, and the upcoming BU events across the globe!
Demarion & Carlita Farmer are married with two young children ages 2 & 4, they also own a small business. Recently they started training for and ran their first ultra in 2021. This is a story of inspiration on so many levels.
Couple goals! These two are conquering all kinds of goals and supporting each other 100%. This was a fun, enlightening, and inspiring conversation. Demarion & Carlita could have so many excuses to not train and work hard towards their goals, but they do not focus on excuses. They have learned the value in believing in themselves and helping each other. On this episode we talk about what prompted them to get into ultra-running and how they balance the training with a young family. We also discuss diversity in ultra-running and the impact they have made on their local community. There is lots of good stuff in this one. We could have talked to this awesome couple for hours. There is nothing better for us than starting our day with lots of laughs and some great conversation.
Lucja Leonard is a Dutch-born Aussie-Brit currently residing in the USA. Wife to Dion Leonard, and Fur-mama to Gobi and Lara, check out 'Finding Gobi' the NY Times bestselling book for more details on that side of her life.
Lucja is an ultra-runner but has not always been one! After becoming overweight in her early 20's Lucja took up running to become a healthier, fitter version of herself and after running her first road marathon, Amsterdam in 2010, she discovered a love of going long and went on to run the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon; a 6 stage, 7-day self-sufficient multistage ultra-marathon through the Kalahari desert in northern South Africa where she fell in love with ultra-running.
Lucja has since gone on to run a multitude of multistage and single stage ultras with the likes of Marathon Des Sables, Leadville 100, Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, Mohican 100 and even 200+miles non-stop with Bigfoot200 and Moab 240. Most recently she tackled the TransRockies Race, a multistage ultra in Colorado with her friend, Amanda, running as a pair with 120miles and 20,000ft over 6 days as 'Team Granny Pants' where they duo came third open female team.
Lucja is also a running and health coach and can be found traveling all over the USA, exploring the most amazing places while working alongside her husband Dion, and his book 'Finding Gobi' with inspirational talks at corporate events, schools, libraries and running stores.
Amanda Asher is a single mother of 3 teenagers (son 17 and twin daughters 15) and 2nd grade elementary school teacher who started ultra-running in 2016 when she tackled her first 50k in Huntsville, Tx – Rocky 50. Since that time, she has taken on dozens of races across Texas, ranging anywhere from 13 milers to 100k’s. Shortly after completing her first 50k, Amanda ran her first mountain race in 2016 when she took on the Pikes Peak Ascent, followed by the Leadville Trail marathon in 2017. Most recently Amanda competed in her first team relay alongside her daughters as they raced the clock during a 12-hour relay at Spider Mountain in Texas. The 3 of them along with one additional teammate – placed 1st female team. Amanda used this race in May as a training run for her most recent endeavor that took place in Colorado – the Transrockies Stage Race – Amanda, alongside her teammate Lucja Leonard, managed to take the podium 4 out of the 6 days. Placing 3rd overall for the week. When Amanda is not busy raising her 3 teenagers or working on lesson plans for her second graders, she can be found solo backpacking all over the U.S., completing various sections of the CDT, John Muir Trail, AT, and hundreds of miles of loop trails, within Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado.
It is always a fun time when Lucja is involved. We loved this conversation with Lucja and her adventure buddy, Amanda. These ladies tell us all about tackling the Transrockies stage race together and how they came up with their team’s name, Granny Panties, it is a great story! Amanda talks about finding balance with adventuring, raising three kids and work. When you hear her talk about it you will think it is possible for you too. Lucja shares her latest adventures and what she has coming up. These ladies are big supporters of each other and other women. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!
Pamela Chapman is a 66-year-old ultra-runner, cancer survivor, nurse anesthetist and inspirational speaker. At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live. When she outlived the diagnosis, she was told she would never be able to have children. She gave birth to three daughters and raised them as a single mother. After her children finished college and began lives of their own, Pam looked for things to fill her time. She rode a Harley on the weekends, became a licensed sailboat captain, learned to surf in Costa Rica, then ran a 100-mile race. Pam never ran in a foot race of any distance before the age of 55; not even a 5k. Her first race ever was the 100-mile Rocky Racoon Ultra in 2011. Since then, Pam has completed in over 68 ultra-marathons including, Badwater 135 five times. She holds USA records in her age group for 24 hours, 48 hours, 100 miles, and 100k, in the 2019 Six Days in The Dome 24 hour race she came in 1st female and 2nd overall.
Pam is a true legend! This talk was so empowering and positive. Pam discusses the many challenges she has had during her life. She has overcome them with a strong faith and the ability to always be grateful. Her story is truly amazing. We chat about how her running career began. We also discuss taking on those big races including the Badwater 135 five times. Pam is also a champion for women, she is determined to prove that age should not define what you can do. When I think of a strong woman role model it is Pamela Chapman that comes to mind.
Jennifer was never an athletic kid, always picked last at PE, made fun of for her weight, struggled with body image and eating disorders in high school through grad school eventually gained a lot of weight in college, decided to start running her junior year and gradually worked up to her first 5k two years later, then ran her first marathon a few years after that. She ran on and off for the next 10 years and trained for her first ultra-distance. After having her son, she jumped back into running, but found out she had a torn labrum in her left hip, had surgery followed by a long rehab, eventually she switched to trails and ran more ultras including a 50 miler.
Jennifer’s transition into photography began when she met her friend Kristy through a FB group, started pacing her at Ornery Mule Racing events and took cell phone pics of her while at races. The RD would frequently repost her pics and eventually offered to hire her to photograph some races. Jennifer gradually took over photographing all of their races as well as some in other states. Health issues have prevented Jennifer from training for her own races, so this is a way for her to stay involved in the community.
Jennifer has the most amazing attitude and the way she deals with setbacks is inspiring. We talk about Jennifer’s ultra-marathons and the Barkley Fall Classic. We discuss her many injuries and how she always reinvents herself to stay involved in a community she loves. Jennifer’s transition into photographing races is a great story. “It’s never too late to go for a big dream – don’t be the obstacle”.
Jennifer is also a contributor to Silent Sports Magazine and Ultra Runner Magazine.
@luoyunghwa
Colleen Rue is a 2x Ironman finisher, Ultra-marathoner, marathon maniac and an endurance fanatic. She is a wife and mother of two teenagers and has 20+ years’ experience as a coach, personal trainer, and instructor in the fitness industry. Known as the Voice of the Mountain at 29029 Everesting events, she has been all over the US as a host, emcee, and race announcer. Colleen has an ability to connect people with brands and events in a way that fosters personal growth and develops bonds for life.
Be brave and do not be afraid of no. Wise words from Colleen, and words that have served her well. This was such a fun conversation for us. Colleen is so genuine and open; we could have continued this conversation for hours. Colleen shares her journey to becoming the voice of the mountain for 29029 Everesting events and the voice of Vacation races. We also talk running ultras and Trans Rockies and so much more. Colleen has several ultras under her belt and lots of great stories. We know you will enjoy Colleen as much as we did!
IG: @colleenrue
@voiceofthemountain
FB: @colleenrue
Web: raceannouncing.com
Rebecca Roehm never dreamed that she would be running for the fun of it. Growing up in Ohio, she played basketball and tennis and always considered running as a punishment. In 2016, the only open treadmill at the gym jump started her foray into running. With the help of a friend and a new pair of running shoes, Rebecca signed up for her first 5k. Less than 18 months later, Rebecca found herself as one of the featured runners on Season 4 of Becoming Ultra where she completed the Minnesota Voyageur 50 miler.
The experience of the Becoming Ultra project has led Rebecca to continually challenge herself. One of the lessons she took away from the experience was that it is important to do hard things. When asked why she runs ultras she responds, “If you aren’t challenging yourself, you aren’t growing as a person.” Some of her notable races include the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Zion 50k, Bandera 100k, the Javelina Jundred 100 miler, and most recently the Last Annual Vol State 500k.
When Rebecca is not working or running, she is traveling with her husband, volunteering, and co-leading the local Portland Oregon chapter of Trail Sisters. One of her passions is increasing the participation of women in sports, especially trail running. She hopes that her experiences as an athlete can inspire others to try something new and do hard things.
We had a lot of fun talking to our friend, Rebecca. This lady is one of the most supportive people we have ever met. She embodies everything the Becoming Ultra community stands for. Rebecca takes us from her first Ultra, a 50 miler to most recently the Vol State 500k and everything in between. She talks about chasing cutoffs and not getting discouraged by finishing DFL or even a DNF. She is wise enough to know there is value in every experience. Listening to Rebecca will inspire you to do something big!
Caitlin grew up in Oakland, CA and now lives in San Francisco, CA with her boyfriend, Daniel after going to college in the Midwest. She grew up playing soccer, then rugby, then discovered Australian Rules Football after graduating from college in 2015. She made the national Australian Rules Football team in 2019 and was going to compete in Australia in 2020 in the International Cup, but then COVID shut the world down. The outdoors have always been a huge part of Caitlin’s life. Her parent’s first took her backpacking when she was 3 years old and did numerous trips in the Sierra Nevada’s that Caitlin eventually came to love (although at first, she thought her parents were torturing her and depriving her of a normal childhood). She discovered distance running in 2014 when she was training to hike across Spain but didn’t have the time to go on longer hikes so resorted to running. In 2016, she came to the realization that you can not only hike on trails, but you can also run on them! She ran her first trail marathon in 2017 and applied to Becoming Ultra at the end of 2021 right after she had foot surgery for a foot injury that had sidelined her from running for a year and a half. Since then, she’s re-fallen in love with trail running and has found amazing communities though Becoming Ultra and Trail Sisters. She’s run two 50Ks, an “ultra” Ragnar, and has her first 50-mile race in Oregon in early July.
Ever wonder where exposing your children to the great outdoors can lead? Caitlin grew up with parents who exposed her to lots of camping, hiking, and backpacking in amazing places. It is so fun to hear her talk about her adventures throughout her life, which includes a very special hike with her Dad. Caitlin shares her experience with training for her first ultra and the disappointment of dealing with an injury. We also discuss her first 50-mile race at Mt. Hood (that she crushed by the way). This is a fun, feel good episode. I will leave you with one of Caitlin’s favorite quotes that I cannot stop thinking about. “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”.